The Jewel House...Day 5j

Early in the day, we noticed the Jewel House, wherein lie the CROWN JEWELS! There was a line but we decided to go ahead and join the queue, correctly deducing that the line would only get longer as the hours went by.

 
 
 The Jewel House is guarded by the Tower Guard. Members of the Tower Guard also are charged with sentry duty throughout the Tower of London. The unit that provides guard duty for the Tower is also part of the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace during the same period of time. (the various "units" take turns being on duty at Buckingham Palace and the Tower) While at Buckingham Palace, earlier this week, Rachel and I saw a sign informing us of the various units and how to differentiate between them (usually by the color/design of their hats or the arrangement of buttons on their coats) (I am NOT making this up)

The guards usually come from one of the following regiments of foot guards:   Grenadier Guards---Coldstream Guards
Scots Guards---Irish Guards---Welsh Guards

(however, I am thinking this guard isn't Irish, Scottish or Welsh)

the differing uniforms of Yeoman Guard and Tower Guard

 Tower Guard and Yeoman Warder (photo bomb)  

The Tower Guard is different from the Yeomen Warder (Beefeater); different in uniform as well as in duties performed.The Yeoman Warders are tour guides and are well-versed in Tower history and crowd management as well as security procedures. They actually live on the grounds of the Tower of London whereas the soldiers of the Tower's Guard rotate on and off duty. There are currently about forty Yeoman Warders living and working at the Tower of London. The Tower Guards are responsible for protection of the Tower since it is still considered a royal residence and since the Crown jewels are on the property. One is stationed outside the Jewel House and another outside the Queen's House. Usually there are about fifteen Tower Guards around the Tower and, although many think they are just ceremonial, they are fully trained soldiers.

The Queen's Guards here in front of the Queen's House because, technically, it is still a royal residence although who knows how long it has been since a monarch has been in residence here.

Our time in line flew by as we enjoyed Heather's dry humor and threw a few snacks Sara's way because we knew security is very tight in the Jewel House and no way was a granola bar getting past those guards! Rachel and I were very low maintenance--we both had a camera and focused on getting some pictures.

The crown encrusted with gems is not the only "crown jewel" displayed but the robes and regalia worn by the sovereign at the coronation are also there. The Crown Jewels also refer to the swords, scepters, orbs, spurs and other objects that have to do with the coronation ceremony. And we saw it all. But what we were really interested was THE crown. And saw it we did. On a moving sidewalk we rode past the crown. I, as well as many others I am sure, would have liked to linger by the crown but that was not permitted, in order to insure that the thousands of people who wanted to see the crown, would get to see the crown. And of course, cameras (and granola bars) were not allowed.    So we will have to make do with this picture of the Imperial Crown.